Rail-joint.



PATBNTEI) JULY 7, 1903.

H. T. CAMPBELL.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10. 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H0 MODEL.

hwovnfoz PATENTED JULY 7, 1903.

H. T. CAMPBELL.

RAIL JOINT.

- APPLICATION FILED DBO. 10. 1902.

2.8II-EBTS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

Patented July 7, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY T. CAMPBELL, OF PENDLETON, INDIANA.

RAlL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 733,144, dated July 7, 1903.

Application filed December 10, 1902. Serial No. 134,675. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY T. CAMPBELL, a citizen of United States, residing at Pendleton, in the county of Madison and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and improved rail joints and supports; and its object is to provide a device of simple and inexpensive construction which may be readily put upon the rails and hold the same in alinement without the use of bolts passing through the rails or angle-bars.

Another object is to so construct the joint as to permit the same to be arranged entirely under the rails at the point of connection therebetween and provide means whereby said ends may be firmly supported or braced to produce a practically continuous rail.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in providing a casting adapted to be placed longitudinally under the adjoining ends of the rails to be connected and which is provided at its ends with inwardly-turned arms adapted to project over the bases and abut against the webs of the rails. The central portion of the casting is recessed to receive a block adapted to lie directly under the ends of the rails and which is supported upon an adjusting-screw arranged within the casting.

The invention also consists in the further novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of my invention, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved rail joint and support arranged upon two rails. Fig. 2 is asection through the rails, showing the arms of the rail-joint in plan view. Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinalsoction through the joint. Fig. 4 is a section on line w 02, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section on line y y, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the casting of the joint detached, and Fig. 7 is a similar view of the supportingblock.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 is a body of a rail-joint, and it is preferably formed in a single casting having inwardly-curved arms 2 integral therewith at its ends, said arms being of such size and shape as to extend over the base of arail and abut against opposite sides of the web thereof. A recess 3 is formed in the center of the upper face of the body 1 and is adapted to receive a block 4; having flanges 5, extending upward from the sides thereof, adapted to project above opposite sides of the base of a rail in position above the joint. A groove 6 is formed longitudinally within the bottom of the block 4, and at the center thereof is a boss 7, having a small recess 8 in the center thereof adapted to receive the inner end of a supporting-screw 9. This screw extends through an aperture 10, formed in the center of the recess 3, and may be readily turned by placing a suitable wrench upon the head 11 of said screw.

A lock-nut 12 is arranged upon screw 9 to fasten the samein the position to which it may be adjusted.

The ends of the rails to be connected are inserted from opposite directions under the arms 2 and upon the body 1 of the joint. Said ends are then brought together directly above the center of the recess 3 and of the block 4:

in said recess. The flanges 5 will project above the sides of the bases of these rails and will serve to retain the block in position within recess 8. The screw 9 is then turned by means of a suitable tool and causes block 4: to press upwardagainst the bases of the two rails at the ends thereof and serves at the same time to draw the arms 2 downward and clamp them upon said bases. In this manner the two rails may be firmly secured together, and the block 4 will at the same time serve as a support for the abutting ends of the rail, and thereby cause them to form a practically continuous rail. The ends of the rails are not weakened by the formation of bolt-holes therein, and, moreover, free endwise movement of the rails caused by the expansion or retraction of the metal is permitted by the employment of a joint such as herein described.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I 'am awarethat modifications may be made therein without departing from. the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a rail-joint, the combination with body having arms at opposite ends thereof for engagement with the bases of rails to be connected; of a block Within the upper face of said body adapted to embrace said bases at the abutting ends thereof, and means for adjusting said block from or toward said ends;

2. In a rail-joint, the combination with a body having a eentrai recess therein, and inwardly-turned arms at the opposite ends thereof; of a block mounted within said recess and adapted to embrace the abutting ends of rails, and an adjusting-screw Within the body and adapted to bear upon and support the block.

3. In a rail-joint, the combination with body having arms integral therewith and at opposite ends thereof and adapted to engage the bases of rails to be connected together; of a block seated Within a recess in said body, flanges at opposite sides of the block adapted to project above the sides of said bases at the abutting ends thereof, an adjusting-screw within the base and bearing upon said block.

a. The combination with a base having inwardiy-turned arms at opposite ends thereof adapted to ext-end over the bases of rails to be connected together, said arms being integral with the base; of a block seated Within a recess in the upper face of the body, flanges at opposite sides of the block adapted to extend above opposite sides of the bases of the rails at the abutting ends thereof, a boss at the center of the lower surface of the block, an adjusting-screw mounted within the base in alineinent with the ends of the rail and adapted to bear upon the center of the, boss and support the biock in adjusted position, and means for locking said screw.

5. In a rail-joint, the combination with a body having means at the ends thereof for engagement with the rails; of a supportingbioek Within a recess at the center of said body, and means for adjusting and supporting said block.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ii/'itnesses:

MARRIOTT C. COOPER, FRED B. AIMAN.

HARRY T. CAMPBELL; 4 

